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Summary: Resolving the position of roots in the whole‐plant hierarchy of drought‐induced xylem embolism resistance is fundamental for predicting when species become isolated from soil water resources. Published research generally suggests that roots are the most vulnerable organ of the plant vascular system, although estimates vary significantly. However, our knowledge of root embolism excludes the fine roots (< 2 mm diameter) that form the bulk of total absorptive surface area of the root network for water and nutrient uptake.We measured fine root and stem xylem vulnerability in 10 vascular plant species from the major land plant clades (five angiosperms, three conifers, a fern and lycophyte), using standardised in situ methods (Optical Methods and MicroCT).Mean fine root embolism resistance across the network matched or exceeded stems in all study species. In six of these species (one fern, one lycophyte, three conifers and one angiosperm), fine roots were significantly more embolism resistant than stems. No clear relationship was found between root xylem conduit diameter and vulnerability.These results provide insight into the resistance of the plant hydraulic pathway at the site of water and nutrient uptake, and challenge the long‐standing assumption that fine roots are more vulnerable than stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stems of Rubus idaeus L., a byproduct of the fruit–food industry, are known sources of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of polyphenolic compounds in R. idaeus stems. Seven cultivated raspberry varieties, thirteen garden samples, including five well-known raspberry varieties, and thirteen wild raspberry samples from different locations in Estonia were analyzed. The HPLC-MS method detected 62 substances, of which 42 were identified, 12 were tentatively identified, and 8 compounds remained unknown. Protocatechuic acid pentoside was dominant in most varieties and in all garden and wild raspberry samples. Dihydroxybenzoic acid hexoside 1, p-coumaroyl quinic acid 1, quercetin 4'-glucuronide, and p-coumaric acid glycoside were found in significant quantities. Correlations among the contents of individual compounds were established. When studying the dynamics of polyphenolic compound accumulation in, for example, the GR1 sample over a year, it was found that, in raspberry stems, the largest amount of them accumulated in April and slightly less in January and October. Investigating the dependence of the accumulation of polyphenols on the parts of the stem, it was found that the upper parts have the highest phenolic contents. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest approximately the upper third of the stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids are economically important sucking pests that suck the sap from different plant parts resulting in the curling of leaves, and withering of plant parts and also transmitting viral diseases. Carinostigmus costatus Krombein (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) is a solitary predatory wasp that constructs nests in the pithy stems of Caesalpinnia pulcherrima and provisions aphids as prey to her broods. In this study, aphid prey preference, prey provisioning behaviour and nesting activity of C. costatus from January to June for two years 2022 and 2023 were studied. The predatory wasp, C. costatus foraged on six host aphids viz., Aphis odinae on Anacardium occidentale (Cashew), Aphis gossypii on Hibiscus rosasinensis (China Rose), Hyadaphis coriandri on Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel), Aphis craccivora on Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea) and Vigna unguiculata, Rhopalosiphum maidis on Zea mays (Maize) and Aphis nerii on Asclepias curassavica (Tropical milkweed). The most abundant aphid prey species in the nests constructed by C. costatus were H. coriandri (28%), A. craccivora (24%) followed by A. gossypii (20%), R. maidis (16%) and A. odinae (8%) and A. nerii (4%). The wasp built a significantly higher number of nests during April (40.60 ± 2.30 nests) with the highest number of cells /nest (4.60 ± 0.55 cells/nest). The wasp provisioned significantly the highest number of aphids per cell during April (16.60 ± 1.14 aphids/cell) with the highest emergence rate of adult predatory wasps (92%). The observations concluded the natural predation of aphids by the solitary predatory wasp, C. costatus. Providing nesting substrates for the wasp will increase their nesting activity with aphid prey provision. This will enhance their numerical and functional response under agroecosystems, thereby helping to regulate the aphid populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass of nutrients accumulated in the vegetative parts of winter wheat (WW) in the period from the beginning of booting to the full flowering stage (Critical Cereal Window, CCW) allows for the reliable prediction of the grain yield (GY) and its components, and the grain protein content (GPC) and its yield. This hypothesis was verified in a one-factor field experiment carried out in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016 growing seasons. The field experiment included seven nitrogen-fertilized variants: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 kg N ha−1. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu content in wheat vegetative parts (leaves, stems) was determined in two growth stages: (i) beginning of booting (BBCH 40) and (ii) full flowering (BBCH 65). We examined the response of eight WW traits (ear biomass at BBCH 65, EAB; grain yield, GY; grain protein content, GPC; grain protein yield, GPY; canopy ear density, CED; number of grains per ear, GE; number of grains per m−2—canopy grain density, CGD; and thousand grain weight, TGW) to the amount of a given nutrient accumulated in the given vegetative part of WW before flowering. The average GY was very high and ranged from 7.2 t ha−1 in 2016 to 11.3 t ha−1 in 2015. The mass of ears in the full flowering stage was highest in 2016, a year with the lowest GY. The highest N mass in leaves was also recorded in 2016. Only the biomass of the stems at the BBCH 65 stage was the highest in 2015, the year with the highest yield. Despite this variability, 99% of GY variability was explained by the interaction of CGD and TGW. Based on the analyses performed, it can be concluded that in the case of large yields of winter wheat, GE is a critical yield component that determines the CGD, and in consequence the GY. The leaf nutrient mass at the BBCH 40 stage was a reliable predictor of the GPC (R2 = 0.93), GPY (0.92), GE (0.84), and CED (0.76). The prediction of the GY (0.89), CGD (0.90), and TGW (0.89) was most reliable based on the leaf nutrient mass at the BBCH 65 stage. The best EAB prediction was obtained based on the mass of nutrients in WW stems at the BBCH 65 stage. The magnesium accumulated in WW parts turned out to be, with the exception of TGW, a key predictor of the examined traits. In the case of the TGW, the main predictor was Ca. The effect of Mg on the tested WW traits most often occurred in cooperation with other nutrients. Its presence in the developed stepwise regression models varied depending on the plant part and the WW trait. The most common nutrients accompanying Mg were micronutrients, while Zn, Fe, Mn, and Ca were the most common macronutrients accompanying Mg. Despite the apparently small impact of N, its yield-forming role was indirect. Excessive N accumulation in leaves in relation to its mass in stems, which appeared in the full flowering phase, positively impacted the EAB and GPC, but negatively affected the GE. Increasing the LE/ST ratio for both Mg and Ca resulted in a better formation of the yield components, which, consequently, led to a higher yield. This study clearly showed that nutritional control of WW during the CCW should focus on nutrients controlling N action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is a major essential element in plants, and the absorption and transport of P are related to crop growth and productivity. Phosphate (Pi) is absorbed in the roots and transported to the shoot. Plants store surplus Pi in the vacuoles. The characteristics of Pi storage and turnover in various parts of the nodulated soybeans might be related to plant growth and P-use efficiency. This research focused on the changes in the Pi concentrations and Pi contents in each part of young soybean plants grown in Pi-sufficient (50 μM Pi) or Pi-deficient (0 μM Pi) conditions. Also, the Pi flux rate in xylem sap from roots to shoot was determined. The growth of the plants was the same after 7 days of Pi-sufficient and Pi-deficient treatments. During the Pi-deficient period, the Pi concentrations in the roots, leaves, and stems decreased significantly but did not deplete. The decrease in Pi concentration in nodules was much slower than the other parts. After the re-supply of 50 μM Pi in the solution, the Pi concentration increased only a little in each part of the Pi-deficient plants. The Pi concentration and Pi flux in the xylem sap quickly responded to the changes in the Pi concentration in the culture solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many of the structures and organelles of vegetative cells are comparable to those of animal tissues, significant differences between the two kingdoms require modifications in histological techniques for both tissue processing steps and histochemical staining techniques. The authors investigated the challenges of working with plant tissues by collecting various flora to represent the four main plant organs: leaf, stem, root, and flower/fruit. Triplicate samples for each specimen were placed into formalin for paraffin embedding, placed into formalin for later frozen sections, and used fresh to undergo immediate frozen sectioning. Frozen sections of plant tissues were more difficult to obtain than formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections, exhibited tissue loss during staining, and were inferior morphologically to FFPE sections. Although, historically, plant tissue fixation and processing has employed several different reagents compared with those used in animal tissue processing and took significantly longer times, the current investigation determined reagents and protocols from a modern histology laboratory which processes mammalian tissues can be applied to plant tissue processing with only slight modifications in respect to reagent timing. Additionally, staining techniques were compared and while it is well known that plant cell walls stain well with safranin O, the current investigation determined the uptake of safranin O can be accelerated by incubating at 60°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are not only vowel-initial suffixes but also consonant-initial suffixes in Kashika which when enters combination with stems, elicits morphophonemic changes in their derivatives. These morphophonemic features demonstrate a systematic patterning regardless of the grammatical word-class of the stems derived words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forage quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) stems is greater than the leaves. Sucrose hydrolysis provides energy for stem development, with starch being enzymatically converted into sucrose to maintain energy homeostasis. To understand the physiological and molecular networks controlling stem development, morphological characteristics and transcriptome profiles in the stems of two alfalfa cultivars (Zhungeer and WL168) were investigated. Based on transcriptome data, we analysed starch and sugar contents, and enzyme activity related to starch-sugar interconversion. Zhungeer stems were shorter and sturdier than WL168, resulting in significantly higher mechanical strength. Transcriptome analysis showed that starch and sucrose metabolism were significant enriched in the differentially expressed genes of stems development in both cultivars. Genes encoding INV , bglX , HK , TPS and glgC downregulated with the development of stems, while the gene encoding was AMY upregulated. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that the gene encoding glgC was pivotal in determining the variations in starch and sucrose contents between the two cultivars. Soluble carbohydrate, sucrose, and starch content of WL168 were higher than Zhungeer. Enzyme activities related to sucrose synthesis and hydrolysis (INV, bglX, HK, TPS) showed a downward trend. The change trend of enzyme activity was consistent with gene expression. WL168 stems had higher carbohydrate content than Zhungeer, which accounted for more rapid growth and taller plants. WL168 formed hollow stems were formed during rapid growth, which may be related to the redistribution of carbohydrates in the pith tissue. These results indicated that starch and sucrose metabolism play important roles in the stem development in alfalfa. The forage quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) stems is greater than the leaves. Starch and sucrose metabolism provide energy during alfalfa stem development. Different varieties of alfalfa have different sucrose, starch and related enzyme activities. Hollow stems will be formed during the rapid growth of alfalfa, which may be related to the redistribution of carbohydrates in the pith tissue. Our results may provide a new theoretical basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of sucrose and starch accumulation in alfalfa stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on studies that were conducted to characterize mycotoxin contamination of vege-tating corn (Zea mays L.) plants in the periods of leaf formation and tassel emergence. The early maturing hybrids Krasnodarskii 194 MV, Ladozhskii 175 MV, and Competence®, which are resistant to fungal diseases, were grown during the spring–summer period in the Moscow Oblast on a plot with sod-podzolic soil and with NPK 16:16:16 fertilizer application. For mycotoxicological analysis, the above-ground plant parts were sampled on a weekly basis starting from the third leaf stage (18 days after sowing). Seedling, leaf, and stem samples (in the total number of 172) were dried, homogenized, and extracted with a mixture of aceto-nitrile and water in the v : v ratio of 84 : 16 using 10 mL of mixture per 1 g of sample. Mycotoxin content was determined by indirect competitive ELISA in the extracts after diluting them 10-fold with phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.5. T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, roridin A, sterigmatocystin, and PR-toxin were absent. Corn seedlings and leaves contained cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), emodin (EMO), mycophenolic acid (MPA), alternariol (AOL), ergot alkaloids (EA), and aflatoxin B1 (AB1), while a number of samples contained zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OA), and citrinin (CIT) in concentrations ranging from 16 to 35 μg/kg. Group B fumonisins were found only in early seedlings. Stems were constantly contaminated with MPA, while EA and CIT were absent. Detection of AOL and EA remained stable in shoots and leaves of all hybrids during the change of development phases, as well as the average contents of CPA (about 100 μg/kg), AOL (from 17 to 27 μg/kg), EMO (35–58 μg/kg), MPA (28–41 μg/kg), EA (6–18 μg/kg), and AB1 (2 μg/kg). In the stems of plants in the seventh–ninth leaf and tassel emerging phases, variation in CPA, EMO, AOL, AB1, and OA detection was observed depending on the genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stems of Rubus idaeus L., a byproduct of the fruit–food industry, are known sources of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of polyphenolic compounds in R. idaeus stems. Seven cultivated raspberry varieties, thirteen garden samples, including five well-known raspberry varieties, and thirteen wild raspberry samples from different locations in Estonia were analyzed. The HPLC-MS method detected 62 substances, of which 42 were identified, 12 were tentatively identified, and 8 compounds remained unknown. Protocatechuic acid pentoside was dominant in most varieties and in all garden and wild raspberry samples. Dihydroxybenzoic acid hexoside 1, p-coumaroyl quinic acid 1, quercetin 4’-glucuronide, and p-coumaric acid glycoside were found in significant quantities. Correlations among the contents of individual compounds were established. When studying the dynamics of polyphenolic compound accumulation in, for example, the GR1 sample over a year, it was found that, in raspberry stems, the largest amount of them accumulated in April and slightly less in January and October. Investigating the dependence of the accumulation of polyphenols on the parts of the stem, it was found that the upper parts have the highest phenolic contents. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest approximately the upper third of the stem.

The mass of nutrients accumulated in the vegetative parts of winter wheat (WW) in the period from the beginning of booting to the full flowering stage (Critical Cereal Window, CCW) allows for the reliable prediction of the grain yield (GY) and its components, and the grain protein content (GPC) and its yield. This hypothesis was verified in a one-factor field experiment carried out in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016 growing seasons. The field experiment included seven nitrogen-fertilized variants: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 kg N ha−1. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu content in wheat vegetative parts (leaves, stems) was determined in two growth stages: (i) beginning of booting (BBCH 40) and (ii) full flowering (BBCH 65). We examined the response of eight WW traits (ear biomass at BBCH 65, EAB; grain yield, GY; grain protein content, GPC; grain protein yield, GPY; canopy ear density, CED; number of grains per ear, GE; number of grains per m−2—canopy grain density, CGD; and thousand grain weight, TGW) to the amount of a given nutrient accumulated in the given vegetative part of WW before flowering. The average GY was very high and ranged from 7.2 t ha−1 in 2016 to 11.3 t ha−1 in 2015. The mass of ears in the full flowering stage was highest in 2016, a year with the lowest GY. The highest N mass in leaves was also recorded in 2016. Only the biomass of the stems at the BBCH 65 stage was the highest in 2015, the year with the highest yield. Despite this variability, 99% of GY variability was explained by the interaction of CGD and TGW. Based on the analyses performed, it can be concluded that in the case of large yields of winter wheat, GE is a critical yield component that determines the CGD, and in consequence the GY. The leaf nutrient mass at the BBCH 40 stage was a reliable predictor of the GPC (R2 = 0.93), GPY (0.92), GE (0.84), and CED (0.76). The prediction of the GY (0.89), CGD (0.90), and TGW (0.89) was most reliable based on the leaf nutrient mass at the BBCH 65 stage. The best EAB prediction was obtained based on the mass of nutrients in WW stems at the BBCH 65 stage. The magnesium accumulated in WW parts turned out to be, with the exception of TGW, a key predictor of the examined traits. In the case of the TGW, the main predictor was Ca. The effect of Mg on the tested WW traits most often occurred in cooperation with other nutrients. Its presence in the developed stepwise regression models varied depending on the plant part and the WW trait. The most common nutrients accompanying Mg were micronutrients, while Zn, Fe, Mn, and Ca were the most common macronutrients accompanying Mg. Despite the apparently small impact of N, its yield-forming role was indirect. Excessive N accumulation in leaves in relation to its mass in stems, which appeared in the full flowering phase, positively impacted the EAB and GPC, but negatively affected the GE. Increasing the LE/ST ratio for both Mg and Ca resulted in a better formation of the yield components, which, consequently, led to a higher yield. This study clearly showed that nutritional control of WW during the CCW should focus on nutrients controlling N action.

Carbon reserve remobilization in stems is closely related to rice grain filling. Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) is highly associated with carbon reserve remobilization. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of SPS genes in various rice tissues, and found that SPS8 is the major SPS isoform in rice stems during the grain-filling stage. We then constructed sps8 mutants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The SPS activity of the sps8 mutants was markedly reduced in the stems. In addition, the sps8 mutants exhibited significant starch accumulation in stems. 14C-labelling experiments revealed that the remobilization of non-structural carbohydrates from rice stems to grains was impaired in the sps8 mutants. In the sps8 mutants, grain filling was delayed and yield decreased by 15% due to a reduced percentage of ripened grains. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR analyses indicated that the genes involved in starch synthesis and degradation were up-regulated in the sps8 mutant stems. In addition, the activity of the enzymes involved in starch synthesis and degradation was increased in the sps8 stems. These results demonstrate that SPS8 is required for carbon reserve remobilization from rice stems to grains, and that its absence may enhance 'futile cycles' of starch synthesis and degradation in rice stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze-dried stems and caps of six cultivated mushroom species, namely Agaricus bisporus (white) Agaricus bisporus (brown), Lentinula edodes, Pholiota nameko, Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus ostreatus were subjected to ethanolic extraction. The obtained extracts were analyzed in terms of total phenolics content, total flavonoids content and antioxidant capacity, and the results were calculated per gram of mushroom dry weight and extract dry weight. The LC–MS technique was applied to determine the profiles of phenolic acids. The amount of total phenolics in the stems (per the fruiting bodies' dry weight) ranged from 1.09 ± 0.09 mg/g (P. ostreatus) to 4.02 ± 0.20 mg/g (the white A. bisporus), whereas in the caps it ranged from 1.49 ± 0.07 mg/g (P. nameko) to 6.22 ± 0.21 mg/g (the brown A. bisporus). The total flavonoid content in the stems (per the fruiting bodies' dry weight) varied from 0.46 ± 0.05 mg/g (P. ostreatus) to 1.72 ± 0.02 mg/g (the brown A. bisporus), and in the caps it ranged from 0.48 ± 0.01 mg/g (P. ostreatus) to 1.93 ± 0.05 mg/g (the white A. bisporus). The antioxidant potential measured with the FRAP assay showed that the caps displayed higher activity compared to the stems. However, in the case of the DPPH assay performed on A. bisporus, this relationship was inverted. Different species contained varied concentrations of phenolic acids. P. eryngii caps contained the highest amount of 3,4-DHBA, L. edodes caps were the richest source of caffeic acid, whereas the highest amount of syringic acid was observed in L. edodes stems. The caps of P. nameko contained the highest amounts of p-coumaric and t-cinnamic acid, as well as 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emojis, introduced in the US in 2011 and now ubiquitous, are a set of iconic expressive symbols that are incredibly widespread in computer-mediated communication (CMC), especially among young people. The majority of linguistic research on emojis focuses only on the semantics; however, emerging data suggest that emojis are far more linguistically interesting than merely their semantic contributions to a sentence. Data from Twitter demonstrate that emojis can actually appear as contentful morphological units that behave according to regularly predictable morphosyntactic rules. In this paper I analyze data from several languages including English, German, and Spanish and reach several conclusions about emojis that appear as words. First, these emojis are not merely replacements in text for existing words in a language, but rather they represent the morphosyntactic of a lexically-typed stem, to which inflectional and derivational affixes can be productively added. Second, these emoji stems can undergo morphological changes such lexicalization and grammaticalization. Within pro-speech emojis, I also differentiate two sub-categories of emoji according to how they are interpreted: emojis which have both an iconic and symbolic mechanism of interpreted, and emojis that are interpreted iconically. This work introduces and strengthens the idea that pictures can be part of the morphosyntactic derivation of an utterance and that they can be represented in a language user’s lexicon.

This paper describes research conducted on the polyphenolic compounds found in wine and different parts of the grapevine. The research consisted of two experiments. In the first, extracts of polyphenols from the leaves, stems, skins and seeds were measured. In the second, these parts were macerated and left in the must during fermentation. For this experiment, the Souvignier gris wine grape variety was used. In both cases, 33 polyphenolic compounds were measured. These measurements were made using the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. Based on the results, the individual concentrations of all the polyphenolic compounds in different parts of the plant were measured. Addition of the individual parts of the grapevine to the must during fermentation was shown to increase the concentration of the individual polyphenols in the wine. It is therefore important not to forget the importance of the stems and the maceration of the grapes during the winemaking process.

Research with Japanese learners of English (Brown et al., 2020) has shown that Japanese learners of English typically have inadequate knowledge of the word parts of English. Research with other groups of learners also tend to show a wide range of degrees of knowledge of word parts (Laufer & Cobb, 2020; Sasao & Webb, 2017). This lack of knowledge has important implications for vocabulary size and reading in English because a very large proportion of Level 6 word families (Bauer & Nation, 1993) include many family members that contain prefixes and suffixes. Related to this, a large proportion of the tokens in any text are complex words (Nation, 2022), that is, words containing affixes. The study of word parts is called morphology, and occasionally I will use this term and its adjective, morphological, when referring to word parts, largely because first language research on word parts uses the terms morphological awareness and morphological knowledge. Word part knowledge is closely related to vocabulary size, and vocabulary size is closely related to proficien- cy level. This article looks at this relationship and tries to relate these three factors using the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra of various types and ages of grape wines and the correlation these spectra presented with their phenolic constituents. Firstly, the differences in UV spectra were characterized for different wine samples, depending on their type and age. Methods: The following methods were used in this study: ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry, Folin–Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method, high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Then, it was demonstrated that for identically aged wines, the 280 nm absorbance is proportional to the concentration of phenolic compounds, as determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Next, an investigation was conducted into the absorption coefficients of different phenolic classes commonly found in grapes and wine. Finally, the range in variation of phenolic compounds in various types of grape wines was established. Conclusions: This work provides a methodological approach to rapidly determine the concentration of phenolic compounds in wines using UV spectroscopy, provided that their age is known. As UV spectrophotometers are available in nearly all laboratories, this may provide a cheaper and faster alternative to current methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

A new antrobutenone, syndulone (1), and six known compounds were isolated from the stems of Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell (Sapotaceae). The structure of the new antrobutenone was elucidated by chemical and physical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agroindustrial Science is the property of Agroindustrial Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Here, we determined the concentrations of Pb, Ni, Zn and Fe in the soil and in vegetative organs of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) collected from the banks of the Drenica River in the vicinity of the Ferronikeli smelter. The results were compared with samples collected from the banks 20 km (Shalë village) upriver. In addition, the bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were determined. Meanwhile, to evaluate the level of pollution in the study area was used the contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk factor ( E r i ) and the potential ecological risk index (RI). The order of heavy metals according to their concentration in the soil samples at both sampling sites was as follows: Fe > Ni > Zn > Pb. Concentrations in excess of the limits allowed for soils in the samples collected in the vicinity of the smelter were recorded for Pb (173.13 mg kg−1), Zn (1217.48 mg kg−1), and Ni (1443.93 mg kg−1), while at the control site, Zn (270.82 mg kg−1) and Ni (375.47 mg kg−1) were found in excess concentrations. But lead (Pb) level was under allowed limit. The data showed that the stinging nettle is not a hyperaccumulator because BCF < 1 at both sites for all metals under study. Furthermore, analysis of the translocation factor (TFsteam/root) showed that at low of heavy metal concentrations, their mobility was higher (TF > 1). The lowest mobility (TF < 1) was observed at site I (Poklek), where the concentration of heavy metals was higher, except for Fe. The opposite was shown for mobility of metals from stems to leaves (TFleave/steam). The evaluation of CF showed that the area near the Ferronikeli smelter had low degree of Pb, moderate degree of Zn and considerable degree of Ni contamination. The values of RI indicate low potential ecological risk index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lucrari Stiintifice, Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole Si Medicina Veterinara Ion Ionescu de la Brad Iasi, Seria Horticultura is the property of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (Editura Ion Ionescu de la Brad) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Central European cropping systems, there is increasing interest in winter faba bean (Vicia faba L. minor), which is traditionally used as a spring crop. But limited knowledge on yield and yield formation and optimum seeding rate exist. Therefore, the purpose of this assessment was to compare soil coverage, yield and yield components of two winter faba bean varieties (Diva and Hiverna) with a spring faba bean (Alexia) with two seeding rates (SR), 25 versus 50 germinable seeds m−2 (S), in a two-year field experiment under Pannonian climate conditions in eastern Austria. Both winter faba bean varieties produced a high grain yield with 25 S, whereas that of Alexia tended to be higher with 50 S. The grain yield of Diva and Hiverna was with 25 S and that of Diva also with 50 S higher than that of Alexia. The higher SR caused in winter faba beans a higher intraspecific competition resulting in less stems plant−1. Pod density of Alexia was higher with 50 S compared to 25 S, while grains pod−1 and thousand kernel weight of all three varieties were not affected by SR. Results show that winter faba bean can be sown in Central Europe with lower seeding rates compared to spring faba bean without suffering a grain yield loss.

We demonstrated the metal accumulation potential of Amaranthus retorflexus, a European weed species, both in moderately and strongly metal-contaminated sites. Metal accumulation in roots, stems, and leaves were studied. We also calculated the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and translocation factor (TF) values to quantify the metal accumulation, and translocation between plant organs. Our findings indicated that metal accumulation correlated with metal concentration; that is plant organs accumulated higher concentration of metals in the contaminated area than in the control one. We found that the concentrations of Ba, Mn, Sr and Zn were the highest in leaves, and Al, Cr, Cu, Fe and Pb in roots. High BAF value was found for Sr in all studied areas, indicating this metal's high accumulation potential of Amaranthus retorflexus. High TF values were found for Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sr and Zn; these metals were successfully transported to aboveground plant organs. We demonstrated that A. retroflexus, a fast-growing, rapidly spreading weed in Europe, was especially useful for heavy metal phytoremediation and phytoextraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portugal has a significant production of kiwifruit, from which around 73.8 tons of leaves and branches are generated every year. The composition of these residues shows interesting properties that could be incorporated into a value-added product. In order to create a new product, the steps proposed by the Chemical Product Design procedure were followed: identifying the needs, brainstorming ideas, selecting the best idea, proposing a manufacturing process. The chosen idea was an anti-ageing facial cream since the kiwifruit leaves and branches present interesting properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-pigmentation effects. In order to obtain this product, a manufacturing plan was designed, and an economic analysis was performed. The proposed circular economy business was found to be profitable and environmentally friendly. This work also includes further innovative steps of the facial cream, such as pigmentation.

Introduction. During fiber-flax harvesting, the working tools of pulling units actively interact with the flax plants. The flax pulling unit with transverse tape-disc pulling channels is characterized by the separation of technological plant flows resulting in the loss of seeds and damage to the flax stems. The aim of the work is the theoretical and experimental substantiation of changes in the design of the pulling units with transverse tape-disc pulling channels by eliminating the separation of technological plant flows during flax pulling. Materials and Methods. Experimental studies to substantiate the parameters and modes of the pulling unit operation were carried out according to available and newly developed methodologies, while the evaluation of flax products was carried out according to current GOSTs (Russian National standards). There was determined the influence of the flax ripeness stages, flax yield, and a type of pulling unit on the indicators of separation of technological plant flows and on seed losses. The influence of the pulling unit type, operating width of the pulling section, and the pulling unit speed on the indicators of processing flax straw was also established. Results. There was obtained the dependence for determining the flax stem base elongation, taking into account the seed boll cohesion. The design of the modernized flax pulling unit was used to assess the effect of reducing the flax stem base elongation and eliminating the separation of technological plant flows during pulling on the reduction of seed loss and increase in the yield of flax longs. In the improved flax harvester, the frame elements are positioned behind the pulling unit. Thanks to the modernization of the pulling unit, the flax straw was of higher quality: 1.5 numbers at THLN-1.9M and 1.25 numbers at THLN-1.9P. Discussion and Conclusion. The modernized pulling unit THLN-1,9M during flax harvesting in the stage of early yellow ripeness, compared with the unit THLN-1,9P, can reduce seed loss by 1.4-2.0%, increased output of long fiber by 1.3%. The production of flax longs increases to 0.45 of its number.

Winemaking and viticulture are one of the leading world’s agricultural sectors, which, like other production services, generate large amounts of organic waste the disposal of which represents a huge economic problem for the producer and an ecological problem for the environment. The main by-products after vine cultivation and grape processing are pomace, seeds, stems, wine lees, and vine shoot and leaves, which are still a valuable source of different biologically active compounds that can be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, as well as in agriculture, energy, and feed production. Therefore, the main goal of this paper was to point out the benefits of winemaking by-products, and provide an overview of their composition and properties, as well as gain insight into recent research on their application in various industries. The rational management of vinification by-products has multiple benefits; production of functional foods and natural agents that generally contributes to the quality of nutrition and life, and at the same time reduces the impact on the environment. All of these give a strong impulse to the idea of sustainability and circular economy, what becomes an imperative in the complex conditions of global economic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe vera is one of the most popular cactus-type plants in the global market due to its widespread uses in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and decorative purposes. The present study derived callus cultures from the Aloe vera plant leaves, then reproduced on agar-solidified MS medium from June to December 2021 at the University of Mosul, Iraq. Results revealed that the MS medium + 3.0 mg L-1 benzyl adenine (BA) proved suitable for induction of leaf callus up to 85%, while the MS medium supplement with 1.0 and 2.0 mg L-1 BA reached 70%. The MS medium with 1.0 mg L-1 BA showed the best results for growing apical shoots of A. vera plants and producing vegetative branches. The formation of roots emerged within two weeks after placing them on the rooting medium. The shoots regenerated from the growing apices and were rooted easily in agar-solidified MS medium. The obtained plants attained successful acclimatization in terms of their growth and length, afterward, transferred to the peat-moss mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cancer is a dramatic illness that ranks among the most pressing health concerns facing humanity and necessitates a proactive approach to treatment. Phytochemicals are regarded as interesting molecules for the development of anticancer drugs due to their pleiotropic effects on broad targets. The actions of phytochemicals are focused on tumor cells alone, with no negative effects on normal cells. The intricate process of carcinogenesis involves numerous signaling cascades. This study examined the effects of four organ extracts from a Mediterranean endemic plant, Cladanthus mixtus, on human tumor cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on this plant from northern Morocco showing relevant antiproliferative activity against two cancer cell lines and one non-tumoral cell line. Many of the chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer are molecules identified and isolated from plants or their synthetic derivatives. This work aimed to identify the bioactive compounds using LC-MS and GC-MS and to evaluate the anticancer activity of the methanolic extracts of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers from Cladanthus mixtus. The anticancer activity was evaluated in vitro against two cancer cell lines: human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and human prostate carcinoma (PC-3), using the MTT assay and microscopic observation. A human normal lung fibroblast (MRC-5) was included to determine the extract's safety for non-tumoral cells. The chemical composition results by LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 24 phenolic compounds. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis allowed the identification of many biomolecules belonging to terpenoids, esters, alcohols, alkanes, fatty acids, organic acids, benzenes, phenols, ketones, carbonyls, amines, sterols, and other groups. The findings suggest that the majority of C. mixtus extracts have antiproliferative activity against two cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and PC-3, and one non-tumoral cell line, MRC-5. The activity was dose-dependent, and the highest effect was obtained with leaf extract in the two cancer cell lines. Moreover, these extracts demonstrated an acceptable toxicological profile against normal cells. Overall, C. mixtus extracts revealed promising antitumor properties provided by their phytochemical composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root hydraulic conductance of rice is often measured using the pressure chamber method only for the main stem at the seedling stage, as it is difficult to evaluate at a more advanced growth stage with tillers due to the high risk of pressure leakage from the gaps between the tillers. The aim of this study was to identify techniques that are effective for prevention of air leakage and an improvement in the success rate of root hydraulic conductance measurements in rice plants with tillers. Using three rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes, FR13A (aus), KDML105 (indica), and Swarna (indica), the root hydraulic conductance of the main stem and four tillers were calculated using the pressure chamber method at 98, 104, and 95 days after sowing, respectively, using the following three techniques: 1) careful detachment of dry leaf sheaths, 2) ensuring spacing between tillers and an appropriate amount of silicone in the socket, and 3) prefixing the socket to prevent vertical misalignment. Using these three techniques, we achieved a success rate of 92.8% (13 of 14 plants) for root hydraulic conductance measurements in the genotypes. Additionally, we show that genotypic variation in root hydraulic conductance exists at the late vegetative stage, and that the growth stage can have a significant effect on root hydraulic conductance values. In conclusion, this study presents a detailed pressure chamber method for measuring root hydraulic conductance in rice plants with tillers, reducing the risk of pressure leakage, and improving the success rate of the measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze-dried stems and caps of six cultivated mushroom species, namely Agaricus bisporus (white) Agaricus bisporus (brown), Lentinula edodes, Pholiota nameko, Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus ostreatus were subjected to ethanolic extraction. The obtained extracts were analyzed in terms of total phenolics content, total flavonoids content and antioxidant capacity, and the results were calculated per gram of mushroom dry weight and extract dry weight. The LC–MS technique was applied to determine the profiles of phenolic acids. The amount of total phenolics in the stems (per the fruiting bodies’ dry weight) ranged from 1.09 ± 0.09 mg/g (P. ostreatus) to 4.02 ± 0.20 mg/g (the white A. bisporus), whereas in the caps it ranged from 1.49 ± 0.07 mg/g (P. nameko) to 6.22 ± 0.21 mg/g (the brown A. bisporus). The total flavonoid content in the stems (per the fruiting bodies’ dry weight) varied from 0.46 ± 0.05 mg/g (P. ostreatus) to 1.72 ± 0.02 mg/g (the brown A. bisporus), and in the caps it ranged from 0.48 ± 0.01 mg/g (P. ostreatus) to 1.93 ± 0.05 mg/g (the white A. bisporus). The antioxidant potential measured with the FRAP assay showed that the caps displayed higher activity compared to the stems. However, in the case of the DPPH assay performed on A. bisporus, this relationship was inverted. Different species contained varied concentrations of phenolic acids. P. eryngii caps contained the highest amount of 3,4-DHBA, L. edodes caps were the richest source of caffeic acid, whereas the highest amount of syringic acid was observed in L. edodes stems. The caps of P. nameko contained the highest amounts of p-coumaric and t-cinnamic acid, as well as 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde.

Carya illinoinensis (pecan) produce a high valued and desired nut crop; with production expanding worldwide. Important attributes of pecans and their ability to adapt to different environments aside from their native regions are currently being investigated. Microbial communities are known to play an important role in crop productivity and overall plant health. Studies in other plant species have shown that the plant microbiome may be influenced by both the environmental conditions and genetics of the plant. Microbiota research in pecan is in its early stages and here we report insights into the core microbiome of seedlings derived from five pecan cultivars located in an orchard from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Seeds from open-pollinated pecan cultivars ('Burkett', 'Mandan', 'Pawnee', 'Western', and 'Wichita') were collected and grown in a quarantine greenhouse under highly regulated conditions. DNA from the resulting seedlings were used for next generation sequencing (MiSeq) for 16S and ITS and microbiome analyses revealed significant differences in microbial composition and relative abundance (bacterial and fungal) between seedling organs, with roots having the highest alpha diversity followed by stems and leaves. Bacterial family Chitinophagaceae was identified to be most relatively abundant in the roots of seedlings compared to the bacterial families Rhizobiaceae and Moraxellaceae, which were found to be most relatively abundant in the stems and leaves, respectively. Analyses also indicated that there were several families (bacterial families: Rhizobiaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Chitinophagaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, Microscillaceae, Rubritaleaceae, Caulobacteraceae; fungal families: Serendipitaceae, Nectriaceae, Ophiostomataceae, Hypocreaceae, Aspergillaceae, and Cephalothecaceae) that were found in all seedlings and these constitute a core microbiome for pecan. There were also differences in microbial composition (bacterial and fungal) between seedlings from different maternal pecan cultivars and these differences are proposed to constitute a signature microbiome for the maternal cultivar. As pecan trees continues to extend to other growing regions it is important to understand the role that these microbes play in pecan. By establishing the core microbiome of pecans, the selection of microbes for breeding and improving pecan production will become a possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants have been used for centuries as an essential part of folk medicine. In recent times, they have been the target of numerous scientific studies due to their effectiveness against several pandemic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. Among them, fruits and vegetables have been intensively studied because of their richness in bioactive compounds, mainly phenolics and carotenoids. Prunus avium Linnaeus (L.) vegetal parts (e.g. stems, leaves, and flowers) are a good example of parts of a plant rich in bioactive compounds. They have numerous technological applications; however, currently, they are mostly used as fertilizers and infusions. According to current knowledge, there are now studies regarding the composition and biological properties of cherry trees vegetal parts, which report that they are a rich source of a wide variety of nutritive compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, among others, as well as non-nutritive bioactive constituents like phenolic compounds. Phenolic acids and flavonoids are denominated as plant secondary metabolites, which have shown several health benefits when included in the human diet, particularly antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-cardiovascular effects. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the beneficial medicinal effects of leaves, flowers, and stems of the cherry tree P. avium, giving emphasis to its phenolic compounds as health promotors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethyl acetate fraction of Psorospermum aurantiacum stems has furnished cadensin H (1) a new compound belonging to the class of xanthonolignoid alongside with six compounds: 1,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methoxyxanthone (2), betulinic acid (3), 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (4), betulin (5), lupeol (6) and stigmasterol glucoside (7). The crude methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction, as well as some major isolated compounds were evaluated for antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus aureus, SSalmonella. typhi, EEscherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia , were used as test organisms. The crude extract has moderate activity against Shigella flexneri , methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, SSalmonella. typhi and EEscherichia. coli strains with MICs values ranging from 125 to 500 µ g/mL, and MBC of 500 µ g/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, SSalmonella. typhi and EEscherichia. coli. While the ethyl acetate fraction has moderate activity against S. flexneri , methicillin resistant S. aureus, SSalmonella. typhi and EEscherichia. coli with MIC ranging from 250 to 1000 µg/mL and MBC from 500 to 1000 µg/mL for S. flexneri, S. aureus, E. coli strains. Among all the compounds tested, only 1,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methoxyxanthone showed moderate activity on all bacterial strains with MICs values from 12.5 to 50 µ g/mL and MBC of 25 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL on methicillin-resistant S. aureus , 100 µg/mL on EEscherichia. coli. DPPH for radical scavenging and iron reducing antioxidant (FRAP) were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. Compound (2) showed important activity with the first reagent while compound (1) showed moderate activity with the second reagent. The structures of the isolated compounds were established using modern spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR and High-resolution mass spectrometry and by comparing with data reported in the literature. [Display omitted] • Isolation of 7 compounds from the stems of psorospermum aurantiacum (Hypericaceae). • Four of the compounds isolated are found for the first time in the genus psorospermum. • First report of antioxidant activities of compounds isolated from the stems of psorospermu m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium is one of the 16 essential elements for plants, being required as Ca2+ and being involved in several fundamental processes (namely, in the stability and integrity of the cell wall, the development of plant tissue, cell division, and in stress responses). Moreover, Ca plays an important role in potato production. In this context, this study aimed to monitor the culture development (in situ and using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) and the mineral content of four essential elements (Ca, P, K, and S) in different organs of Solanum tuberosum L. (roots, stems, leaves, and tubers) during a calcium biofortification process, carried out with two types of solutions (CaCl2 and Ca-EDTA) with two concentrations (12 and 24 kg∙ha−1). The calcium content generally increased in the S. tuberosum L. organs of both varieties and showed, after the last foliar application, an increase in Ca content that varied between 5.7–95.6% and 20.7–33%, for the Picasso and Agria varieties, respectively. The patterns of accumulation in both varieties during the biofortification process were different between the variety and mineral element. Regarding the quality analysis carried out during the development of the tubers, only the Agria variety was suitable for industrial processing after the last foliar application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined with the unique processing technology of oolong tea, oolong tea with stem processing has a better flavor compared to oolong tea without stem processing. However, there is currently no available evidence to support the contribution of stems to the taste quality of oolong tea. In this study, the electronic tongue, sensory evaluation method combined with liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry were used to explore the influence of the presence of stems on the flavor substances and aroma of oolong tea during processing. The results showed that the presence of stems significantly increased the umami taste of oolong tea (p < 0.05), and the content of seven free amino acids (p < 0.05), including theanine (53.165 μg/mL) and aspartic acid (3.190 μg/mL), two umami-related amino acids, significantly increased. Moreover, the content of nerolidol (2.598 μg/g) in aroma components was significantly increased. This study identifies the contribution of stems to oolong tea quality during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of grape residues as a renewable energy source for combustion presents various problems. One of these is the excessive production of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Analyses and combustion tests were performed on white and red grape pomace as well as grape stems. To verify the possibility of a reduction in emissions, straw of Miscanthus sinensis was added to mixtures with red grape pomace. Emission concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides were determined on a grate combustion device with a nominal thermal output of 8 kW under steady-state conditions. In addition to these emission concentrations, the excess air factor and the flue gas temperature were monitored. The results show a high energy content in grape residues. In red grape pomace, the gross calorific value of dry matter reached 22.17 MJ kg−1. Unfavourable properties included high ash and nitrogen contents. During combustion tests on all types of grape residue, the emission concentrations of carbon monoxide were above the legal limit for the combustion of solid fuels. The addition of Miscanthus straw improved the behaviour during combustion. The maximum content of grape pomace in the mixture capable of meeting legislative emission requirements was 50% wt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of essential oils and hydrosols of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) stems with leaves obtained by hydrodistillation was identified using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). One-year-old and two-year-old plants of the same immortelle population, and plants from three Croatian populations, all grown in Slovenia, were included in the study. The main compounds of essential oils of one-year-old and two-year-old plants were α-pinene, α-eudesmol, and rosifoliol. Among essential oils of the Croatian populations, three dominant components were found: α-pinene, geranyl acetate, and 2-phenylethyl tiglate. Both the essential oils and hydrosols of one-year-old plants were more diverse in their compositions than two-year-old plants. The predominant compounds of hydrosols of one- and two-year-old plants were pentan-3-one, 3-octanone, 2,2-dimethylnon-5-en-3-one, and α-terpineol, and in the Croatian populations α-terpineol, 2,6-octadien-1-ol, 2,2-dimethylnon-5-en-3-one, and α-terpineol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stems are more important to forage quality than leaves in alfalfa. To understand lignin formation at different stages in alfalfa, lignin distribution, anatomical characteristics and transcriptome profile were employed using two alfalfa cultivars. The results showed that the in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) of stems in WL168 was significantly higher than that of Zhungeer, along with the significantly lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin contents. In addition, Zhungeer exhibited increased staining of the xylem areas in the stems of different developmental stages compared to WL168. Interestingly, the stems of WL168 appeared intracellular space from the stage 3, while Zhungeer did not. The comparative transcriptome analysis showed that a total of 1993 genes were differentially expressed in the stem between the cultivars, with a higher number of expressed genes in the stage 4. Of the differentially expressed genes, starch and sucrose metabolism as well as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways were the most significantly enriched pathways. Furthermore, expression of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis such as PAL, 4CL, HCT, CAD, COMT and POD coincides with the anatomic characteristics and lignin accumulation. These results may help elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis and improve forage quality in alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Varus-valgus constrained (VVC) devices are typically used in revision settings, often with stems to mitigate the risk of aseptic loosening. However, in at least one system, the VVC insert is compatible with the primary posterior-stabilized (PS) femoral component, which may be an option in complex primary situations. We sought to determine the implant survivorship, radiological and clinical outcomes, and complications when this VVC insert was coupled with a PS femur without stems in complex primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). Methods: Through our institution’s total joint registry, we identified 113 primary TKAs (103 patients) performed between 2007 and 2017 in which a VVC insert was coupled with a standard cemented PS femur without stems. Mean age was 68 years (SD 10), mean BMI was 32 kg/m2 (SD 7), and 59 patients (50%) were male. Mean follow-up was four years (2 to 10). Results: The five-year survivorship free from aseptic loosening was 100%. The five-year survivorship free from any revision was 99%, with the only revision performed for infection. The five-year survivorship free from reoperation was 93%. The most common reoperation was treatment for infection (n = 4; 4%), followed by manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA; n = 2; 2%). Survivorship free from any complication at five years was 90%, with superficial wound infection as the most frequent (n = 4; 4%). At most recent follow-up, two TKAs had non-progressive radiolucent lines about both the tibial and femoral components. Knee Society Scores improved from 53 preoperatively to 88 at latest follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusion: For complex primary TKA in occasional situations, coupling a VVC insert with a standard PS femur without stems proved reliable and durable at five years. Longer-term follow-up is required before recommending this technique more broadly. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(11):921–925.

Most of the farmers who grow cactus pear (Opuntia albicarpa) use manure as a fertilizer. This practice increases the problems of pests. The use of endomycorrhizae (Glomus intraradices) is almost unknown to farmers. Therefore, the objective of this research was to study the effect of the application of organic matter (OM) and inoculation with endomycorrhizae in cactus pear. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the Montecillo Campus of the Postgraduate College, Mexico. Two types of soil from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, were used: reddish coloration (xerosol) and gray coloration (lithosol). The results show that there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in all the variables by inoculation with endomycorrhizae and in the majority of those by the application of OM. Both the mycorrhizae and the application of OM, as vermicompost, promoted greater growth of the stems and roots. The types of soils used did not affect the growth of the plants. Mycorrhizae can be useful to improve mineral nutrition and thus increase yields in cactus pear plantations. In addition, these fungi can increase yields and help reduce production costs. The application of 50 t ha-1 vermicompost is a better alternative to add nutrients and OM to this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetradenia riparia is known for its richness in essential oil which has been widely investigated due to its biological activities such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, trypanocidal, antimalarial and antioxidant. The objective of this work was to chemically analyze and evaluate the antifungal and antimycotoxigenic activity of the essential oil and the crude extract of leaves, flower buds and stems of T. riparia from the northwest region of the state of Paraná. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. To obtain the crude extract, the leaves, flower buds and stems were pulverized and subjected to a dynamic maceration process using 70% v v−1 ethyl alcohol. Chemical analysis of the essential oil was performed by GC/MS, and chemical identification of the crude extract by UHPLC-ESI/qTOF. Antifungal activity (Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium verrucosum and Fusarium graminearum) was performed by broth microdilution and the antimycotoxigenic assay was performed with A. ochraceus and P. verrucosum. Ochratoxin A was extracted by partition with chloroform and quantified by HPLC-FL. The oil yield was 0.29% for leaves, 0.34% for stems and 0.38% for flower buds, and the major compounds were fenchone, β-caryophyllene, α-cadinol, 14-hydroxy-9- epi-caryophyllene, 9β,13β-epoxy-7-abietene, α-cadinol and 6–7-dehydroroyleanone. The main chemical compounds identified in the crude extract were terpenes, anthocyanins, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oils from leaves, flower buds and stems for the strains tested ranged from 0.87 mg mL−1 to 33.3 mg mL−1, while the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranged from 6.94 mg mL−1 and 33.3 mg mL−1. The MIC and MFC for ketoconazole, tebuconazole, sorbate and nitrite ranged from 0.05 to 33.3 mg mL−1. The oil and crude extract of leaves, stems and flower buds showed an inhibition of ochratoxin A production for P. verrucosum of approximately 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Thailand, teak harvesting always includes skidding of tree length stems from landing to log yard for further processing. When terrain does not set limitations for the machines to be used, skidding is carried out by farm tractors. In this study, data was collected from 10 work cycles of teak extraction to simulate productivity of farm tractors. The GNSS data as speed and locations was used to extract operational distances and time consumption, as well as to support productivity simulation. For this, detailed measurements were done on the extracted stems to collect their diameters and lengths. For approximately six stems per load, the mean load size was 1.723 m³. The study found that mean productivity was 17.4 m³/h during the survey, where the mean extraction distance was 217 m. Our simulation presents productivity diagrams in relation to skidding distance. By simulation, we detected that reducing the full operational speed by 1 km/h, would decrease productivity by 1 m³/h, when the extraction distance is less than 100 m. Another observation was that even small reductions of load sizes have a remarkable effect on productivity in short distances. Until large scale studies are to be done to evaluate the productivity in relation to variations in load size and extraction distance, the results shown herein could stand as a basis for productivity assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ukraine ranked second in the world after Peru in the pace of laying new Highbush blueberry plantations. Experts estimate that in 2018, in Ukraine, from 0.7 thousand hectares to 1.0 thousand hectares of new Highbush blueberry plantations were laid. Over the past 12 years, previously little-known product, Highbush blueberries have become one of the main berry crops. At present, commercial plantations blueberries take the 3rd place after black currants and strawberries. Zhytomyr region boasts the biggest areas planted with Highbush blueberries in Ukraine, followed by Volyn and Kyiv. According to estimates, the export of blueberries from Ukraine may increase to 20 thousand tons in 5 years. In addition to the use of Highbush blueberries in the food industry, they are a promising source of BAS for pharmaceutical and medical use, so their study is a promising area of pharmaceutical science. In Ukraine, there are no domestic standardized medicines manufactured from Highbush blueberries, and there are only foreign dietary and functional supplements. Abroad, Highbush blueberry medicines are used to improve vision and as astringents for colitis, enterocolitis and diarrhoea. In this regard, the development of domestic standardized medicines based on Highbush blueberries raw materials is an urgent task for modern pharmacy. The aim of the research was to study the phytochemical profile of the volatile fraction of Highbush blueberry vegetative organs (leaves, stems and fruits). Materials and methods. The objects of research were the leaves, fruits and stems of Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), in which the composition of the the volatile fraction components was studied by chromato-mass spectrometry on a gas chromatograph Agilent Technologies 6890 with a mass spectrometric detector 5973. Results. Chromato-mass spectrometry in the composition of volatile fractions of leaves, fruits and stems of Highbush blueberries revealed 65 substances. 49 substances were identified in the Highbush blueberry leaves, of which 36 substances of terpene nature, 13 organic acids, and 2 compounds were not identified. In the Highbush blueberries fruits, 47 substances were found, of which 36 substances are of terpene nature, 14 are organic acids and 3 were not identified. In the Highbush blueberries stems, 50 substances were found, of which 33 substances are of terpene nature, 14 are organic acids and one was not identified. Conclusions. As a result of phytochemical studies, it is for the first time that the component composition of volatile fractions of leaves, stems and fruits of Highbush blueberries from the flora of Ukraine was established. The content of 65 substances was identified and established, including 14 organic acids and 39 terpene compounds.